"Officers interrupted women's ceremony at camp tonight. Imagine police barging into your church while you pray to threaten you." said Ruth Hopkins, reporter from Oceti Oyate

"There was no direct action tonight. Grandmothers were passing down ceremonial teachings to the women, then the Law enforcement officers came." added Ruth Hopkins

"As care takers of Unci Maka (Mother Earth) and Life-givers we hold a responsibility to secure the future for our children and the next seven generations to come."

Water protectors opposing the Dakota Access Pipeline gathered for a sacred ceremony at the Oceti Oyate – Cheyenne River Camp this weekend, February 18-19, for an Indigenous women’s gathering.

“We are trying to get as many women and people down here this weekend as possible,” said Gingger Shankar, a musician helping to organize the event, in an email. This is because North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum signed an executive order(February 15) mandating an evacuation of the camps by 2 p.m. February 22.

As Women of Sovereign Nations, Lands, and Waters, we have been given the honor of caring for the earth, the water and all living beings on it. There are special teachings given to us by the Creator that have been passed down through every generation by our grandmothers.

Sacred Indigenous women’s gathering was about to revitalize that tradition on a large scale for all the grandmothers, daughters and granddaughters to experience and defend our Children's future.

There was no direct action tonight. Grandmothers were passing down ceremonial teachings to the women, then the police came. #NoDAPL